To: Matt Hsncock and Boris Johnson
Informal Carers
Publicly acknowledge the tireless work of informal carers at all times and particularly during the pandemic. Provide more help in re-locating those in need of moving and funding social care accross thr spectrum adequately.
Why is this important?
Front line staff havr been prsisdd to the hilt received honours, visits from government and the Royal family whereas those of us classified as 'informal carers have had no recognition for all they have done in keeping the relatives they care for out of hospital and care homes to ensure no extra pressure has been put on the NHS and Social Care. As an ex nurse I can say I never had to work so hard on a ward as I am having to do mos looking after a husband with severe COPD and dementia. I have hsd to work an endless shift with no leaving work behind, I have had no days off, no annual leave and little financial recognition. I have spent money on medical equipment to undertake procedures I did as a registered nurse, a wheelchair some equipment I had from my nursing days. I cannot go out unless there is someone to stay with my husband I have had to get up to him to provide medication, change a wet or worse bed. I have had to assess whether he needs antibioticscabd oral steroids, assess whether he has a lung infection or a urinary infection. I hsve done all this without thinking about it and I am sure there are many informal carers who do just as much as we as cooking, cleaning and laundry that also has to be done. I have been tryg to get a move out of London to a rural community where we coild have either a bungalow with an enclosed garden or a house eith a stair lift as well as an enclosed garden for two years with no success due to the need for adaptions. Whilst front line staff have been doing an amazing job and rightly have been thanked for it, we informal carers have been doing a PHENOMENAL job without one public thank you, without a salary ancxworking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year without so much as a mentio from anyone in government let alone any recognition! No wonder some havd rdsorted to divorcing their sick spouse and walking away from being an informal carer. We are currently totally isolated and the very least we could do with is some recognition of whst we do, help with moving to places that woild be to the benefit of our mental health and tgst of the person we are caring for
